#SPOTTED: SHAMIER ANDERSON, KING BACH, BEN JOHNSON & MORE AT WORLD PREMIERE OF “HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY”

The Red Carpet was rolled-out at Scarborough Town Centre last night as the World Premiere of new Paramount+ series HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY took place! The humorous Mockumentary series is told over six episodes, giving the world a chance finally to hear Ben Johnson‘s side of the story.

Once regarded as “the World’s fastest man”, his world came crumbling shortly after winning gold in the 100m Men’s Spring at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, when he tested positive for steroids. Stripped of his medal, this investigation led to a broader conversation about the doping of several Canadian athletes, though Johnson never got vindication.

The Series from Creator Anthony Q. Farrell, stars Scarborough’s own Shamier Anderson in the title role, alongside social media sensation King Bach as Johnson‘s arch-rival Carl Lewis. The Cast is a who’s-who of Canadian talent including Andrew Phung, Emma Hunter, Mark McKinney, Kristian Bruun, and several more.

We had the pleasure of attending the Premiere and chatting with the Cast and Creator:

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The screening, moderated with a Q&A by Scarborough Spots founder Jesse Asido, was then followed by a reception in the space the formerly belonged to Hudson’s Bay. The rum was pouring, the music was blaring, and the roti and curry coat was unlimited! And most of all, man of the hour Ben Johnson was seen kicking-back and having fun, as he should.

HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY airs March 26, 2026 on Game TV and streams March 27, 2026 on Paramount+.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount+ Canada/Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: “HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY” COMING MARCH 26, 2026

GameTV and Paramount+ in Canada today announced the premiere of HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY, an audacious six-part mockumentary reimagining of the “dirtiest race in history” that is equal parts absurdist comedy and cultural critique. The first two episodes of the series will premiere March 26, 2026 on GameTV and will be available to stream on Paramount+ in Canada March 27, 2026, with two new episodes released weekly.

The series is created by BAFTA-winning and Emmy-nominated writer Anthony Q. Farrell (The Office, Shelved, Run the Burbs), who also serves as showrunner and Executive Producer.

Directed by R.T. Thorne (The Porter) and Cory Bowles (Trailer Park Boys), the series is set against the backdrop of the 1988 Summer Games and the doping scandal that dominated global headlines. HATE THE PLAYER gleefully blurs the line between fact, fiction, and fever dream as Johnson self-funds a documentary to “set the record straight,” pulling viewers into a world of ethically questionable coaching, performance-enhancing coverups, and misguided redemption.

Shamier Anderson (John Wick: Chapter 4, Invasion) stars as Ben Johnson, with Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor (Greenland, The Babysitter) as Johnson’s American competitor Carl Lewis. The ensemble cast includes Karen Robinson (Schitt’s Creek, Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent), Mark McKinney (Kids in the Hall, Superstore), Ennis Esmer (Blindspot, Children Ruin Everything), Malaika Hennie Hamadi (Bria Mack Gets A Life) and Kristian Bruun (The Recruit, Orphan Black).

Rounding out the supporting cast is a standout ensemble of Canadian comedic talent including Ryan Belleville (Workin’ Moms), Darryl Hinds (Second City), Lisa Horner (Kim’s Convenience), Emma Hunter (Mr. D, Letterkenny), Suresh John (Mr. D, Last Frontier), Jonathan Langdon (Trap), Gita Miller (Workin’ Moms), Andrew Phung (Kim’s Convenience), Dewshane Williams (Hello Tomorrow), Leslie Adlam (Bria Mack Gets A Life) and Arnold Pinnock (Plan B).

The miniseries also features several playful cameos, including appearances by WWE star Chelsea Green, Canadian NASCAR driver Amber Balcaen and Canadian figure skating champion Elvis Stojko.

HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY is produced by New Metric Media, in association with Bay Mills Studios. Executive Producers include Mark Montefiore, CEO of New Metric Media (Letterkenny, Shoresy, Children Ruin Everything) and director R.T. Thorne, alongside Shamier Anderson and Stephan James for Bay Mills Studios. Lana Maclin and Max Wolfond serve as Producer and Supervising Producer, respectively, for New Metric. The series is distributed internationally by New Metric Media.

#FIRSTLOOK: “HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY” CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT

Award-winning comedy entertainment studio and 360-degree brand marketing leader New Metric Media, in association with Bay Mills Studios, is pleased to welcome a supporting cast of top-notch comedic acting talent to upcoming satirical miniseries HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY, set to debut on Anthem Sports & Entertainment’s GameTV and Paramount+ in Canada in 2026.

Social media star and actor Andrew Bachelor, better known as King Bach, who has amassed an ever-growing following of more than 70 million across various social media platforms, is taking on the role of famed U.S. sprinter Carl Lewis, opposite the previously announced series star Shamier Anderson, who plays Ben Johnson. Most recently, Bachelor has also starred in Netflix comedy Coffee and Kareem, alongside Taraji P. Henson, Ed Helms and Betty Gilpin, Netflix horror The Babysitter: Killer Queen with Jenna Ortega and Netflix romcom Holidate with Emma Roberts and Kristin Chenoweth.

“As someone who grew up surrounded by the sport of track and field, it’s truly in my blood. My father was a sprinter in Jamaica, and he passed down to me not just his speed, but his passion and deep understanding of the sport. I had the honor of running track for Florida State University, where we won nationals three years in a row. Carl Lewis was a hero of mine – not just because of his dominance, but because he excelled in multiple events, just like I did,” said Andrew Bachelor. “The rivalry between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis is one of the most iconic in sports history. To be a part of bringing that story to life is an incredible honour and a full-circle moment for me.”

Mark McKinney, performer, writer and producer of some of the most groundbreaking television made in North America, including Kids in the Hall, will recur in the role of lawyer Walter F. Essanpee in HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY. Meanwhile, SAG and Canadian Screen Award winner Karen Robinson (Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Schitt’s Creek) is playing Ben’s beloved mom, Gloria, with three-time Canadian Screen Award Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Ennis Esmer (New Metric Media’s Children Ruin Everything, The Madness) portraying Ben’s doctor Jamie Astaphan. Kristian Bruun (The Recruit, Orphan Black) joins the cast as Ben’s coach Charlie Francis and Malaika Hennie Hamadi (New Metric Media’s Bria Mack Gets A Life) as intern Khara.

Rounding out the supporting cast is a cavalcade of Canadian comedy talent including Ryan Belleville (Workin’ Moms), Darryl Hinds (Second City), Lisa Horner (Kim’s Convenience), Emma Hunter (Mr. D, Letterkenny), Suresh John (Mr. D, Last Frontier), Jonathan Langdon (M. Knight Shyamalan’s Trap), Gita Miller (Workin’ Moms), Andrew Phung (Kim’s Convenience, Run the Burbs) and Dewshane Williams (Hello Tomorrow).

The miniseries has also lined up several fun cameos, including appearances by WWE star Chelsea Green and Canadian NASCAR driver Amber Balcaen.

HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY is Canadian sprinter Johnson’s definitely-not-biased account of the doping controversy that rocked the 1988 Olympics when he tested positive for banned steroid use, going from hero to zero in 9.79 seconds in what some called “The Dirtiest Race in History”. The series takes a revealing and satirical look at the events surrounding the legendary race and the scandal behind the scandal. New Metric Media identified and put the project together, entering development on the series with Paramount+ in Canada in 2023.

The series is created by BAFTA-winning and Emmy-nominated writer Anthony Q. Farrell (The Office, Shelved, Run the Burbs), who serves as showrunner and Executive Producer. New Metric Media CEO Mark Montefiore (Letterkenny, Shoresy, Children Ruin Everything) and director R.T. Thorne will also executive produce, alongside Anderson and Stephan James for Bay Mills Studio. Lana Maclin and Max Wolfond serve as Producer and Supervising Producer, respectively, for New Metric. Thorne (The Porter) and Cory Bowles (Trailer Park Boys) are set to direct.

Set to debut on GameTV and Paramount+ in Canada simultaneously in early 2026, HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY is being produced with participation from Ben Johnson and is inspired by extensive research conducted by Canadian author and journalist, Mary Ormsby. New Metric Media is distributing the miniseries internationally.